Apparatus for starting motors



No. 6|l,558. Patented Se t. 27, I898.

J. BURKE. APPARATUS FOR STARTING MOTORS.

. (Application filed Apr. 4, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Sheets-Sheet I.

THE ncnms PETERS co PHOTD-LITHO. wasnmuwu. n c.

No. 6ll,558. Patented Se t. 27, I898. J. BURKE.

APPARATUS FOB-STARTING MOTORS.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1898.) -J 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 6l|,558. Patented Sept. 27, I898.

.J.. BURKE.

'APPABATUS FOR-STARTING MOTORS.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1898.)

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

m Noam: PETERS 'co. mommma, wuumo'rorl. n. c.

N0. s||,55s. Patented Sept. 27, I898.

- J. BURKE.

APPARATUS FOR STARTING MOTORS.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 Shanta-Sheet 4.

W QM MSQa $13 ablfoznup wane/Mao UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcE.

JAMES BURKE, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE BULLOCK ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR STARTING MOTORS.

$PEGIFIC-ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,558, dated September 27, 1898.

' Application filed April 4, 1898. Serial No. 676,336. (No modelfl T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES BURKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Starting Motors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to apparatus forstarting electric motors. It is particularly applicable for use in connection with motors which are operated from supply-circuits of approximately constant potential and which are used for the purpose of driving that class of machinery wherein the moment necessary to start it in motion exceeds that necessary to accelerate and maintain motion.

The object of the invention is to construct apparatus which shall utilize the current to the best advantage and start the motor evenly and without shock. In instances of running such machinery by steam-engines it is customary to interpose a train of gears between the power-supply and the shaft of the machine to be started, the gearing being adapted to multiply the moment delivered to the shaft of the machine to be started in proportion to the ratio of the gearing and to throw out this gear when the machinery gets started in motion. I propose to accomplishasubstantially similar result electrically when the machinery to be started is to use electricity as a motive power through the medium of an electric motor. In carrying out my invention I interposein the electric circuit apparatus for producing a fixed multiplication of the current from the supply-circuit, which multiplied current is used in starting the electric motor. After the machinery gets started in motion I withdraw the currentmultiplier or electric gearing from the circuit. This multiplying of the current may be accomplished by transformation, and for this purpose any suitable converter may be used. To'accomplish best results, however, the primary and secondary windings should have a definite and constant inductive relation. Both windings should be in the same magnetic circuit, in which case the ratio or multiplying power of the current will be ap proximately the ratio of secondary turns to primary turns in the same way as with mechanical gearing, wherein the multiplying power of the moment is the ratio of the numberof teeth of one gear to that of the other with which it engages.

The invention is designed for use upon either continuous or alternating currents. Vhen continuous currents are used,the n10- tor should, in order to produce best results, be a continuous-current motor and the currents be changed to alternating currents for the purpose of transformation and the transformed currents then rectified to continuous currents before reaching the motor by any well-known device for transforming continuous currents. Whether used with continuous or alternating currents the converter may consist of any device, rotary or otherwise, for multiplying or changing the current according to the nature and requirements of the particular machine to which the invention is to be applied, it being here noted that Ihave used the term converter herein in its broadest sense to include all such devices.

The invention will be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents conventionally an apparatus embodying my invention. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are respectively diagrams of the metallic circuits of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 at starting, intermediate, and final position. Fig. 5 is a conventional view of a similar apparatus, showing a different arrangement of circuits; and Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively diagrams of the metallic circuits of Fig. 5 at starting and final position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 repre sent the terminals of the supply-circuit from which current isto be taken to operate the motor. B represents the motor to be started. 0 represents the converter or current-multiplier, and Arepresents a controlling-rheostat, to be hereinafter described, adapted to throw the converter into and out of circuit with the motor.

It will become apparent in following out the description of my invention that apparatus embodying the same may be constructed in which may be used any common type of rheostats and switching devices; but I have here shown and described a rheostat and switching device in which all the various operations essential to the carrying out of the invention are combined in one apparatus and which has been found by me to be the best adapted to perform the same. It is to be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the device here shown, but consider that all equivalents shall be embraced within the description and claims of my invention as hereinafter set forth. The contact-blade of the controller A is represented by a, the latter being a prolongation of the lever a and separated therefrom by insulation m The controller has three contact-bars 4, 5, and 6, the former being continuous throughout its length and connected by wire 3 to terminal 1. Bars 5 and 6 are each divided into a plurality of contact-plates 6 7 S 9 10 11 12 and 13 14; 15 16 16 17 18, as shown in the drawings. The contact-plates in bars 5 and 6 are respectively connected to resistancecoils 19 2O 21 22 23 2i, which resistances are gradually cut out of circuit as contact-blade a is moved from plate 7 to plate 12 and from plate 13 to plate 13. Switch-blade 25 is insulated from blade a, but is arranged to be moved by the latter, so that as blade at moves to one side or the other of the center line of bars 5 and 6 the switch-blade will move to the opposite side to make contact with one of the two contact-plates 26 and 27. A wire 28 leads from contact-plate 26 to the primary of the converter 0, and from thence a wire 29 leads to contact-point 30.

31 and 32 are contact-points arranged in line with point 30.

A blade 33 is mounted upon stud a upon which lever a is mounted, and is insulated from said stud. This blade is adapted to make contact with and join points 30, 31, and 32. A hook 34c, to be hereinafter described, is adapted to engage with a stud-blade 33 and hold the same normally in contact with the points 30, 31, and 32, and a spring 35 is adapted to withdraw the blade from engagement with the contact-point when the hook is released. A wire 38 leads to coil 39 of a magnet 40, to the end of which magnet-hook 34: is hinged. A spring 41 tends to hold the hook away from the magnet and out of engagement with blade 33, but when current is flowing through the coil of the magnet the latter will become energized and hold the hook in engagement with the blade 33.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 a wire 42 leads from the magnet to the secondary of the converter 0, and from thence a wire 43 leads to motor B. From motor 13 wire 44; leads to wire 37, the latter leading to the terminal 2. A wire 36 connects .wire 44 with the contact-point 31. Therefore when current is flowing through the-primary of the converter a current will be induced in the secondary of the converter, the metallic circuit of which will include wire 13, motor B, wires 44 and 36, contact-point 31, blade 33,

contact-point 32, wire 33, coil 39, wire 42, and the converter.

The blade 33 is provided with a lug 45, adapted to engage with asimilar lug 46 upon lever a, whereby in moving the lever so that the blade a will be at the limit of its movement on contact-plate 0 the lugs will have engaged and moved blade 33 over into engagement with the contact-points 30, 31, and 32. The upper side of the hook 3% is suitably curved in order that a spring-catch 49 upon lever a will bear upon the upper side of the hook 34: when the lever a is adjacent to it and thus hold the hook in engagement with blade 33, notwithstanding there may be no current in the magnet.

A contact-point 50 is connected with wire 43 by a wire 51, and a contact-point 53 is connected with wire 36 by a wire 54:. A plate 52 upon lever a", insulated therefrom, is adapted to connect points 50 and 53 in order that in stopping the device a local circuit of the motor may be closed to brake the motor.

The operation of the apparatus above described is substantially as follows: Before starting the lever a is brought around to the position at which blade d is in contact with contact-point 6. The moving of the lover to this position has brought the lugs l5 and 46 in contact and moved blade 33 into contact with the points 30, 31, and 32, and the pressure of the spring-catch 49 upon the upper side of hook 34 holds the latter in engagement with the blade The moving of the lever has also moved the switch-point 25 into contact with plate 26. The operation of starting is commenced by moving blade (t into contact with contact-plate 7. In this position the metallic circuit will be substantially as shown in Fig. 2, in which case a small current from the supply-circuit produces an increased current in the induced circuit, thus supplying the armature of the motor with current of low potential but large amperage. The lever is then moved farther over, successively cutting out the resistances 19 20, &c., increasing the strength of the current until the end of the blade moves the point 25 over upon contact 27, which changes the metallic circuit to substantially that shown in Fig. 3, in which the induced current is still operative; but the current from the supply-circuit is introduced through the resistances directly into the motor. The lever being moved still farther to cut out the resistance in the supplycircuit, the induced current will be decreased as that of the supply-circuit is increased until at some point the strength of the magnetism due to the induced current will be overcome by the spring and the hook 34- will be released from the magnet, allowing blade 33 to be drawn out of contact with points 30, 31, and 32 by its spring, thus opening the induced circuit and effectually removing the converter from the motor-circuit. The point at which the induced circuit will be opened will of course vary according to the moment necessary to start the motor and will occur at some intermediate speed between rest and full speed.

It will also be seen that the above-described apparatus is capable of considerable modification,variation, &c.,without departing from my invention. The form of windings of the apparatus and the ratio of the current multiplier or converter in particular should be determined and arranged to suit each individ u a1 apparatus,according to the work which it is designed to perform. I therefore desire it to be understood that I have here shown conventional forms of the various parts of the apparatus for the purpose of indicating that any suitable devices for performing the functions herein described for those parts may be used in place of the various parts here shown and that I do not limit myself herein to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, but consider as within the scope and terms of the'invention all equivalents and modifications of the various parts when used in combination,as herein set forth.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of my invention adapted to a different arrangement of connections. In this construction a wire 43 connects contact-point 31 with the motor 13 and a, wire 42 connects the secondary of the converter with the terminal 2. This in the operation of the device will change the circuits, so that in starting position they will be as shown in diagram in Fig. 6 and in final position as shown in Fig. 8. In this instance the supply-circuit and the converter-circuit are. combined at the motor, although independent at other points of the system.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim is 1. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor with the supply-circuit, a converter in circuit with the motor and with the supplycircuit,and means for breaking the convertercircuit at an intermediate speed of the motor, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor with the supply-circuit, a converter in circuit with the motor and with the supplycircuit, and means for automatically breaking the converter-circuit at an intermediate v speed of the motor,substantially as described.

3.. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor With the supply-circuit, a controllingrheostat in said supply-circuit, a converter in circuit with the motor and with said supplycircuit, and means forbreaking the convertercircuit at an intermediate speed of the motor, substantially as described.

4:. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor with the supply-circuit, a controlling rheostat in said circuit, a converter, means for interposing said converter in said circuit intermediate the rheostat and motor, and

means for withdrawing said converter from the circuit, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor with the supply-circuit, a converterin circuit with the motor and with the supplycircuit, means for varying the strength of the current from the converter, and means for cutting the converter out of circuit at an intermediate speed of the motor, substantially as described.

6. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor with the supply-circuit, a converter in circuit with the motor and with the supplycircuit, and means for varying the relative values of the currents from the supply-circuit and converter-circuit, substantially as described.

7. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor with the supply-circuit, aconverter in circuit with the motor and with the supplycircuit, means for varying the relative values of the currents from the supply-circuit and converter-circuit, and means for cutting said converter out of circuit, substantially as dcscribed.

8. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor with the supply-circuit, a converter in circuit with the motor,a source of current-supply connected with the converter, and means for breaking the converter-circuit, substantially as described.

9. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, a local circuit induced from said supply-circuit, means for combining the current from the induced circuit with that from the supply-circuit, and means for supplying said combined currents to the armature of the motor, substantially as described.

10. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor with the supply-circuit, a converter in circuit with the motor, a source of currentsupply connected with the converter, means for combining the current from the convertercircuit with that from the supply-circuit, and means for supplying said combined currents to the armature of the motor, substantially as described.

11. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, a local circuit induced from said supply-circuit, means for directing current from said induced circuit into the ar mature of the motor, means for directing the current from the supply-circuit into the armature of the motor, and means for varying the relative values of the currents from the induced circuit and from the supply-circuit, substantially as described.

12. The combination with an electric motor, of a supplycircuit, a local circuit induced from said supply-circuit, means for combining the current from the induced circuit with that from the supply-circuit, means for varying their relative Values, and means for supplying said combined currents to the armature of the motor, substantially as described.

13. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, a local circuit induced from said supply-circuit, both of said circuits being connected with the armature of the motor, a rheostat in the supply-circuit, and a switch adapted to open and close said induced circuit, substantially as described.

let. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, a local circuit induced from said supply-circuit, both of said circuits being connected with the armature of the motor, and an automatic switch adapted to open said induced circuit at an intermediate speed of the motor, substantially as described.

15. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor with the supply-circuit, a local circuit induced from said supply-circuit and con nected with the motor, a rheostat in the sup ply-circuit, a switch adapted to open said induced circuit, a magnet controlled by said induced circuit and adapted to hold said switch closed, means for varying the relative values of the currents from the supply-circuit and from the induced circuit, and means for opening said switch when the strength of said magnet falls below a predetermined point, sub stantially as described.

16. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, a converting device, two

sets of resistances, one in circuit with the motor and the other in circuit with the converting device, and a switch connected with the supply-circuit and adapted to make contact with the respective sets of resistances, sub stantially as described.

17. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, a converting device, two sets of resistances, one in circuit with the motor and the other in circuit with the converting device, a switch connected with the supply-circuit and adapted to make contact first with the resistance in circuit with the converting device and then with the resistance in circuit with the motor, and means for cutting the converting device out of circuit,substantially as described.

18. The combination with an electric motor, of a supply-circuit, means for connecting the motor with the supply-circuit, a local circuit induced from said supply-circuit, a controlling device comprising a rheostat in said supply-circuit, an operating-lever adapted to control the same, and a switch in said induced current adapted to be closed by the action of said lever and released when the induced current falls below a predetermined strength, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES BURKE. Vitnesses:

O. V. EDwnnDs, M. A. RYAN. 

